Smart because they don't have the full team France technically has!! And they do need to win the next games in succession!! Resting key players, and playing others for experience, yeah!! The next games?? If not a very hard grandstand finish in injury time, hopefully no injuries!! Or its a grueling 120min extra time and the penalties!! Norway is a contender but they are a smart contender!!
I totally agree on this strategy… Smart one!! Because the toughest test woulf be Brazil whivh itself is in blooming stage after all their super stars retired and missing… So Norway.. Smartly played!!
It's a shame. Norwegians travelled all the way to watch their team for the first time after a zillion years. And they got to watch a bunch of amateurs against an uninterested France
It's a normal move in a WC. If the team is already qualified, no matter what, then what's the use of winning the group round? Instead, most teams opt to let their strongest players take a rest. And the chances of them getting injured is also gone for that game. Plus, the reserves get a nice chance to show themselves, maybe even impress the world. Germany did it too against Ecuador, though they didn't switch out the whole main team, just many key players.
I think it's a shame we didn't get to see this match, BUT honestly I find it preferable for Norway to play Ivory Coast and Brazil (or Japan.. I am NOT underestimating Japan) over Sweden and Germany.
To go for a win would have required heavy expenditure of energy for a relatively low reward. I do not consider Sweden as a strong contender against the current Norway team, but such a rivalry match could have demanded so much from the players.. and heated heads run the risk of injury.
I am upset as a football fan, but as a Norway fan I understand Solbakken's choice.
Besides.. the 1-4 result doesn't truly tell the whole picture. Norway was the better team in the second half and Strand Larsen wasted a penalty chance to properly light a fire under the match, undoing the hard work of Bobb who was really on fire in the second half.
If they took the bump deliberately, it was one of the smartest strategic moves of the tournament. This way, they let two of the big ones fight it out, one of them goes out, and they proceed against two easier opponents with higher chances of winning. Play smart. Not hard.
they need time to rest, the tension in world cup is higher than weekly league game or UEFA competition, beside this is their first major tournament after decades they still need time to adapt with the atmosphere, there is huge different between nation team that play regulary and rarely
Going up against France for one of the best teams in the world why sacrifice your top players in a game that isnβt to crucial when you can keep them fit for the next knockout game
Norway made the right call, especially with France being so hypeπππ remember Vikings do use feints while still being brutes. And to take the squad off…. Definitely to give them early rest and extra time to prepare for strong next round
π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£ Go sweden
Some people are talking about winning the group as if thatβs the end goal π
But America is silly for winning their group and benching 7/9 starters for their game with TΓΌrkiye and almost winning.
Chat. I don't follow football where they just sandbagging?
The A-team needs rest too! And the b-team should be allowed to be playing in wc without mnau people hating that "Haaland" and a team wasn't on
They feared playing against Sweden in the 16th parts final
Smart because they don't have the full team France technically has!! And they do need to win the next games in succession!! Resting key players, and playing others for experience, yeah!! The next games?? If not a very hard grandstand finish in injury time, hopefully no injuries!! Or its a grueling 120min extra time and the penalties!! Norway is a contender but they are a smart contender!!
I totally agree on this strategy… Smart one!!
Because the toughest test woulf be Brazil whivh itself is in blooming stage after all their super stars retired and missing…
So Norway.. Smartly played!!
You dont get a medal for winning the group stage. Giving players a rest is far more important
DUH to go on a crack binge. Doesn't matter who they play, they will go for it. Tictacs mate. Chilling ready for the knockout stage. Fear no one. !
Japan looks very strong
Oh damn it. We missed out on an opportunity to absolutely destroy Swedenπ
Vikings has a reputation of having good strategy.. Just saying..βοΈπ―
Norweigan citizen. Stuck between borders. Living in the streets. Surviving. Being tourist guide.
It's a shame. Norwegians travelled all the way to watch their team for the first time after a zillion years. And they got to watch a bunch of amateurs against an uninterested France
Norway ain't getting past the Quarters without rest.
With rest, they might just sneak by
So they rested
really 8 days of rest mid tournament?
The most dumb coach in World Cup history π
Good to let other player play in their first world cup game too
I felt very sad for the Norwegian kids in the stadium hoping to see halaand play. He could have showed up for 10 min
It's a normal move in a WC. If the team is already qualified, no matter what, then what's the use of winning the group round?
Instead, most teams opt to let their strongest players take a rest. And the chances of them getting injured is also gone for that game. Plus, the reserves get a nice chance to show themselves, maybe even impress the world.
Germany did it too against Ecuador, though they didn't switch out the whole main team, just many key players.
Norway is NOT being smart here sorry
Long-con game for giving the fans the matchup of Mbappe vs Haaland in the finals instead
I think it's a shame we didn't get to see this match, BUT honestly I find it preferable for Norway to play Ivory Coast and Brazil (or Japan.. I am NOT underestimating Japan) over Sweden and Germany.
To go for a win would have required heavy expenditure of energy for a relatively low reward. I do not consider Sweden as a strong contender against the current Norway team, but such a rivalry match could have demanded so much from the players.. and heated heads run the risk of injury.
I am upset as a football fan, but as a Norway fan I understand Solbakken's choice.
Besides.. the 1-4 result doesn't truly tell the whole picture. Norway was the better team in the second half and Strand Larsen wasted a penalty chance to properly light a fire under the match, undoing the hard work of Bobb who was really on fire in the second half.
Donβt think it matters who you get going forward, Brazil and Germany are beatable. Having a well rested squad is far better
Norway is moste corrupt country in the world
If they took the bump deliberately, it was one of the smartest strategic moves of the tournament. This way, they let two of the big ones fight it out, one of them goes out, and they proceed against two easier opponents with higher chances of winning. Play smart. Not hard.
they need time to rest, the tension in world cup is higher than weekly league game or UEFA competition, beside this is their first major tournament after decades they still need time to adapt with the atmosphere, there is huge different between nation team that play regulary and rarely
All of these to get KOed in the next match
Getting second in the group also means many of their matches will be played at 9 pm norway time, whilst if they got first it would be midnight
Absolutely right call
Noho im from swedenπ’
I'm a Brazil fan but tbh, this Brazil team is not the fearsome one people have in their head prior 2014
It smart but kinda hard to watch the match as a Norwegian
Going up against France for one of the best teams in the world why sacrifice your top players in a game that isnβt to crucial when you can keep them fit for the next knockout game
Norway made the right call, especially with France being so hypeπππ remember Vikings do use feints while still being brutes. And to take the squad off…. Definitely to give them early rest and extra time to prepare for strong next round
Norway just copied France when they won their last two championships. Unfortunately for France their new manager forgot about it…
France has a easy matchup against sweden, but they will most likely meet spain which would be a very hard match for france
Why: because they had already qualified for the Round of 32.
The results wouldβve been the same stop glazing